Diagnostic modelling method and apparatus

A system for generating a cardiac diagnostic model, the system comprising a processor configured to:

• analyse a plurality of reference data sets, each reference data set comprising at least one image, the analysis comprising identifying at least one feature in each image;
• calculate at least one metric in dependence on the at least one identified feature;
• acquire outcome data associated with at least some of the reference data sets;
• and
• compile the diagnostic model in dependence on the at least one calculated metric and the associated outcome data;
• wherein each reference data set comprises first and second images, the processor being configured to analyse each reference data set to:
• identify at least one first feature in the first image, and identify at least one second feature in the second image, each at least one first feature being paired with a corresponding one of the at least one second feature;
• and
• compare each pair of corresponding first and second features to identify one or more difference therebetween;
• wherein the processor is configured to calculate the at least one metric in dependence on the one or more difference identified between each pair of corresponding first and second features;
• wherein the first image comprises a first end systolic image and the second image comprises a second end diastolic image, the one or more difference identified between each pair of corresponding first and second features represents a cardiac cyclic change, wherein the at least one metric includes principal transformation and/or shear transformation;
• wherein the outcome data comprises diagnostic information indicating whether the reference data set is from a patient having a positive or negative diagnosis for a cardiac condition, and is associated with a corresponding set of data in the reference data set;
• and
• wherein the diagnostic model is updated when new outcome data associated with a corresponding set of data in the reference data set becomes available or when the outcome data associated with a corresponding set of data in the reference data set is updated.